Reversible drive mechanism



June 18, 1957 e. D. HINTON REVERSIBLE DRIVE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 3, 1955v Geogga Q Z-Zz'iuozz June 18, 1957 G. D. HINTON REVERSIBLE DRIVE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3, 1955 fzzz ni'oz" GQOZQZ- Z7. [2 6222 022 Patented June 18, 1957 REVERSIBLE DRIVE MECHANISM George D. Hinton, Wyoming, 1]].

Application March 3, 1955, Serial No. 491,811

10 Claims. (Cl. 74-355) This invention relates to a reversible drive mechanism having manually actuated reversing means.

Specifically this invention relates to a manually actuated reversing means applied to a drive mechanism which is adapted to be used with indicating, counting or recording instruments having the primary function of addition and/or subtraction. By way of example, machines utilized on a piecework basis often have associated therewith a counting device which registers the number of pieces handled or produced during its operation.

Also, there are other types of indicating instruments, such as speedometers of automobiles, which record the mileage traveled and, under certain circumstances, the subtraction of recorded mileage or the non-indication of mileage being traveled is of importance.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a reversing mechanism adapted to be inserted in the drive of an indicating, counting, or recording instrument.

An additional object is to provide a reversing mechanism adapted for quick and easily accomplished manual operation.

An additional object of this invention is to have asimple reversing mechanism which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable of construction, eflicient in function, as well as accurate and reliable in operation.

My invention has for another object the provision of a reversing mechanism having a minimized number of operating parts and which functions with a one-to-one speed ratio between its input and output connections.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompartying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view showing my reversible drive mechanism in the driving connection to an indicating, counting, or recording instrument;

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of my drive mechanism, partly in section, showing the parts in one operating position;

Fig. 3 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2, showing the parts in another operating position;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of my reversible drive mechanism taken substantially as indicated by a line 4-4 and accompanying arrows in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of my reversible drive mechanism taken substantially on a line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and with a portion cut away, the gear elements being illustrated in positions for effecting reversal of the drive direction;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5, but showing the gear elements positioned for unidirectional drive;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 6, but showing the gear elements in a neutral or non-driving position;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of my reversible drive mechanism taken substantially on a line 8?8 of 4, and Showing vClip ecu n m a uti ed for o din pa of the mechanism in s em ed elati nship;

Fig. 9 is an exploded isometric view of the parts of by reversible drive mechanism; and

Fig. 10 is an exploded isometric view of one of the housing parts with a portion thereof broken away to show details of internal structure.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an exemplary embodiment of my invention is shown for illustrative purposes, attention is directed to Fig. 1, wherein my reversible drive mechanism 10 is shown in an operative association with a recording, counting, or'

indicating device 12, and is disposed between the indicating device and a driving element, such as a housed flexible shaft 16 to which it is adjoined by a coupling nut 14. It is to be understood that the specific indicating device and motivating element are dependent upon the needs and desires of the user of the reversible drive mechanism. Such indicating device may be a speedometer or counter, and in the present instance, the mechanism is supported by the indicating device while providing a reversible driving connection to a motivating structure through the flexible drive shaft or cable 16.

The reversible drive mechanism 10, as illustrated herein, has a two-part housing. One housing part 18 has an internally threaded bore 20 which is adapted to .connection to the indicating device 12. The internally threaded bore 20 extends longitudinally into the outer end of the housing part 18 and is adjoined internally of the housing part to the end of a coaxial smooth bore 22 of smaller diameter than the internally threaded bore 20. It may be noted that the diameter of the smooth bore 22 is substantially equal throughout its full longitudinal extent. The outer surface of the housing part 18 is substantially cylindrical and is provided with a radial shoulder portion 24. Also, the housing part 18 has three basic and externally exposed cylindrical portions which include a longitudinally extending end portion or boss 26 having the internally threaded bore 20 therein and substantially coaxial thereto, an intermediate portion 28 of larger diameter than the end portion 26, and eccentrically disposed relative thereto, and an inner end portion 34 of smaller diameter than the intermediate portion 23 and substantially concentric therewith.

A second housing part 32 of my reversible drive mechanism 10 includes a first cylindrical portion 34 of substantially the same diameter as the intermediate por tion 28 of the first housing part 18. The first cylindrical portion 34 of the second housing part 32 is adjoined axially by another cylindrical and externally threaded portion or boss 36 having a diameter smaller than that of the portion 34 and having its longitudinal axis radially offset from the longitudinal axis of the first cylindrical portion 34. The externally threaded cylindrical portion 36 is adapted to connection to a driving element, such asthe flexible shaft or cable 16 by the coupling nut 14. Furthermore, the cylindrical portion 36 has a smooth bore 38 extending therethrough.

The first cylindrical portion 34 of the second housing part 32 is provided with a wall 40 having a radial inner surface 42 of a diameter to fit over the surface of the cylindrical portion 30 of the first housing part 18 to pr de a snu bu fr ely rota able fi b w the pa t Ar inner surface 42 of wall 40 defines a bore in which he cy d cal po t on .3 of the pa 18 is sc pi ally received. Furthermore, the axial length of the wall ill at Pa 2 s r e h n e a al l ngt of the y n ica por n 3 o pa 8. so that wh n. t e ou ng eleen 1 a d 32 are n oper ti e el copi a y a mbl re at o sh p a o it d n l e d su ce 44 of th Wa l all) abuts the shoulder portion 24 on the out r Surface of the a s pa 1 and a chamber 6 fin betwee a d al y po d e d rface 8 of he ylin ca poron 0. t e n e pe iph al surface f the wall 0 and a radially disposed inner end surface 50 of the cylindrical portion 34 of the second housing part 32.

In the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of part 18, there is provided, as shown in Figs. 3, 8 and 9, a circumferential groove 52 and radial bores 54 which extend inwardly from the groove to receive arcuate springs 56 having inwardly bent end portions thereon. The inner peripheral surface 42 of the wall of the second housing part 32 also has therein a peripheral groove 58 which is axially positioned in a radial plane for alignment with the groove 52 in part 18 when the housing parts are assembled with end surface 44 of part 32 abutting shoulder 24 on part 18, whereupon, in the assembly, the springs 56 extend into the grooves of both parts for retaining the housing parts 18 and 32 together. The wall 40 is further provided with radially extending open ings 60 which provide means for disengaging the springs 56 by the insertion of pins therein, when it is desired to disassemble housing parts of my reversible drive mech anism. The cylindrical portion 30 of the housing part 18 is provided with a second peripheral groove 62 which receives an O ring 64 of a resilient material, such as rubber, to provide a seal for lubricant in the assembled housing parts, as shown in Fig. 4.

Attention is now directed to the intermediate cylindrical portion 28 of the first housing element 18, wherein there is provided a series of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending openings 66, 66a, and 66b, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 9. Each of these openings serves, as will appear more fully, to determine an operating position of my reversible drive mechanism, in that one of the openings establishes the part positions for direct drive, another opening establishes the positions for a reversed drive, and the third opening provides a neutral or non-driving position of the parts.

The radial inner end surface 44 of the cylindrical hous ing part 32 abuts the shoulder 24 of the housing element 18 while the springs 56 lock the two housing parts 18 and 32 together in telescopic relation, but allow relative rotation of part 32 relative to part 18.

Rigidly fastened to an outer radially disposed end surface 68 of housing part 32 is a spring actuated locking detent assembly generally indicated at 70 and including a leaf spring 72 secured at one end to the surface 68 by fastening means, such as a screw 74 and lock washer 76. A locking plunger 78 is rigidly secured to the other end of the spring 72, as shown in Fig. 9. A smooth axial bore 80 is provided in the wall 42 of housing part 32 and extends therethrough. The locking plunger 78 is longer than the axial length of the wall 42 and has a sliding fit in the bore 80, so that an inner end 82 thereof extends beyond the inner end surface 44 of the wall 42, as depicted in Fig. 1. The end 82'is adapted to fit selectively into one of the openings 66, 66a, or 66b in the housing part 18, depending upon which driving connection the user desires. It may be observed, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, that the free end of the spring 72 extends beyond the outer peripheral surface of the housing part 32 so as to provide ease of access for the users thumb or fingers in effecting disengagement of the end 82 of plunger 78 from any of the openings 66, 66a, or 66b. The outer peripheral surface of the housing part 32 has a knurled strip thereon, as at 84, to afford frictional engagement for the users hand which will facilitate ease of rotation of the second housing part 32 relative to the first housing part 18, so that the user may selectively position the end 82 of the locking plunger 78 in any one of the openings 66, 66a, or 66b, thereby to select direct drive, a reverse drive, or a neutral non-driving position.

Having thus described the relative positions of the twopart housing, attention is directed to the details of the drive mechanism. A drive shaft 86 is rotatably journalled in the bore 38 in the housing part 32 and is substantially parallel to the axis thereof. An idler shaft 88 is secured to the housing part 32 and projects into the chamber 46 from the intermediate radially disposed face 50. The drive shaft 86 and idler shaft 88 both extend axially of the housing parts 18 and 32 and are carried by the housing part 32 for movement therewith relative to the housing part 18. A gear 90 is secured to the inner end of the drive shaft 86. A second gear 92 is rotatably mounted on the idler shaft 88. The gears 90 and 92 are of identical size and lie in meshing relationship to each other in all positions of the housing part 32, as illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. An output shaft 94 is rotatably journalled in the bore 22 of the longitudinally cylindrical portion 30 of the first housing part 18. This output shaft 94 is adapted to provide an operating connection to the recording, counting, or indicating device 12. A third gear 96, of identical size to gears 91? and 92, is secured to the inner end of the output shaft 94. It may be observed that all three of the gears 90, 92 and 96 lie in the same radial plane when the housing parts 18 and 32 are assembled, as shown in Fig. 4, thus providing for minimum overall length of my reversible drive mechanism. The gear 96 mounted on the output shaft 94 is disposed in relationship to the meshing gears 90 and 92 so that, upon the rotation of the second housing part 32, by reason of the end 82 of the locking plunger 78 being selectively positioned in one of the openings 66, 66a, or 6617, such gear 96 may be placed in mesh with either the driving gear 90 for direct drive, as illustrated in Fig. 5, or in mesh with the idler gear 92 to provide reversed drive, as illustrated in Fig. 6, or it may be out of mesh with both the gears 90 and 92, thus providing a neutral or non-drive position, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5, the directions of rotation of the shafts 86 and 94 will be reversed, since the gear 90 on drive shaft 36 meshes directly with gear 96 on output shaft 94. As shown in Fig. 6, the directions of rotation of the shafts 86 and 94 will be the same, since the gear 90 drives the gear 96 through the idler gear 92, thus effecting rotation of the shaft of instrument 12 in the same direction it normally would be driven by flexible cable 16. In the position as shown in Fig. 7, the gear 96 on the output shaft is out of mesh with both gears 90 and 92, so that there is no driving connection thereto and the drive is neutral. In the position shown in Fig. 5, end 82 of the locking plunger 78 is in opening 66. To change to the position shown in Fig. 6, the user lifts the end of spring 72 to withdraw the end of locking plunger 78 from the opening 66 and rotates the housing part 32 until the plunger end 82 drops into opening 6612 as a result of the force exerted by the spring 72. To change to the position of Fig. 7, the spring 72 is lifted and housing part 32 is rotated until the plunger end 82 drops into opening 66a.

Assuming that the instrument 12 is to record a determined total of operations, my drive is inserted between the instrument and its actuating shaft 16 and the drive is started and the gears are set to the position shown in Fig. 6. At the completion of a period of operation, the drive is stopped. To reset the instrument 12 to zero or to effect the reverse operation thereof for any reason, the gears are set as indicated in Fig. 5, and the drive shaft 16 is rotated in its normal direction for the required period. When it is desired to avoid the operation of the instrument 12, the gears are set to the neutral position depicted in Fig. 7.

This device operates simply to effect direct or reverse drive, or neutral, as desired, by a simple manual operation of lifting spring 72 and rotating housing element 32.

As shown, there are two locking springs 56 with inturned ends adapted to enter openings 54. These springs have a radius smaller than that of the groove 58, so that they may lock elements 18 and 32 securely in place relatively to each other, yet provide for relative rotation.

Having thus described and disclosed my invention, it will be understood that obvious modifications other than those illustrated in the drawing may be resorted to within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A reversible drive mechanism of the class described comprising a two-part housing consisting of a pair of axially aligned cylindrical members, said members being connected for relative rotation on a common axis and defining a gear chamber therebetween, each member having a boss thereon at a position eccentric to said common axis, an input shaft journalled for rotation in one boss, an output shaft journalled for rotation in the other boss, gears on said shafts disposed in said gear chamber, and an idler gear supported for rotation by a shaft extending into the gear chamber from one of said members at a position such that said idler gear is continuously in mesh with the gear on the input shaft, said gears being relatively disposed and radially spaced from the axis of relative rotational movements of the members so that relative rotation of said cylindrical members serves to effect meshing engagement of either said gear on the input shaft or said idler gear with said gear on the output shaft.

2. A reversible drive mechanism of the class described including a pair of axially aligned telescopically connected and relatively rotatable cylindrical members, the first member having a boss thereon projecting axially therefrom at a position eccentric to the cylinder axis at one end thereof and also having a cylindrical portion on the other end which is concentric with the cylinder axis, the second member being bored at one end to substantially the diameter of the cylindrical portion and having a boss at the other end thereof which is eccentric to the cylindrical portion, said bored portion being sufliciently deeper than the cylindrical portion of the first member to provide a gear chamber when said cylin drical portion of the first member is telescopically received in said bored portion of the second member, an input shaft journalled in the boss on one of said members, an output shaft journalled in the boss of the other member, gears of the same size on each shaft and disposed in said gear chamber, and an idler gear supported for rotation by a shaft extending into said gear chamber from one of said members, said idler gear being positioned to mesh with the gear on said input shaft and selectively to mesh with the gear on the output shaft, depending on the relative positions of the cylindrical members.

3. A reversible drive mechanism of the class described including a pair of axially aligned telescopically connected and relatively rotatable cylindrical members, the first member having an eccentrically disposed boss thereon at one end thereof and having an axially aligned cylindrical portion on the other end, the second member being bored at one end to substantially the diameter of the cylindrical portion and having a boss in eccentric relationship thereto at the other end thereof, said bored portion being sufficiently deeper than the cylindrical portion to provide a gear chamber when said cylindrical portion of the first member is telescopically received in said bored portion of the second member, an input shaft journalled in the boss on one of said members, an output shaft journalled in the boss of the other member, gears of like size on each shaft and disposed in said gear chamber, an idler gear rotatably supported by a shaft extending into said gear chamber from one of said members at a position displaced from the axis or relative rotational movement of said members and such that the idler gear is in mesh with the gear on one of the first mentioned shafts, said members being rotatable relative to the other to effect engagement of one of said gears of like size with either the idler gear or the gear that is in mesh with the idler gear, and manually releasable means on one of the members and engageable with the other member for locking the members in relative positions for effecting the aforesaid engagements of the gears.

.4. A reversible drive mechanism of the class described including a pair of axially aligned telescopically connected and relatively rotatable cylindrical members, the first member having a boss thereon at one end thereof and an axially aligned cylindrical portion on the other end, the second member being bored at one end to substantially the diameter of the cylindrical portion and having a boss at the other end thereof, said bored portion of the second member being sufiicien-tly deeper than the cylindrical portion of the first member to provide a gear chamber when said cylindrical portion of the first member is telescopically received in said bored portion of the second member, an input shaft journalled in the boss on said second member, an output shaft journalled in the boss on the first member, gears of like size on each shaft and disposed in said gear chamber, an idler gear supported for rotation in said gear chamber by a shaft extending into the chamber from one of said members at a position such that the idler gear is meshed with said input shaft, and locking means for said members comprising an annular groove in the periphery of said cylindrical portion of the first member, a second annular groove in the inner surface of said bored portion of the second member in the radial plane of said first groove when the members are assembled, a plurality of radial openings in said first member terminating in said first groove, 21 pair of curved springs having inwardly projecting ends, each of said ends being located in one of the radial openings in said first member, and the curved portions of said springs lying partially in said grooves of both members to lock said members against separation and permitting relativerotation.

5. The structure defined in claim 4, and wherein one of the members has an additional annular groove therein axially spaced from the first mentioned groove in that member, and a sealing ring disposed in said additional groove for engagement with the adjacent surface of the other member.

6. The structure defined in claim 3, and wherein said locking means additionally comprises a leaf spring on the outer end of said second member and having a portion overhanging the outer periphery of said second member, an axial bore near the periphery of said second member, a plurality of radially offset circumferentially spaced bores in said first member adapted to be axially aligned with the bore in the second member, a pin in said first mentioned bore connected to said spring and adapted to selectively enter one of said plurality of bores to lock said members in predetermined angular position relative to each other.

7. The structure defined in claim 4 and wherein said locking means includes positioning means comprising a leaf spring on the outer end of said second member and having a portion overhanging the outer periphery of said second member, a bore in said second member displaced radially from the center thereof, a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores in said first member at positions for axial alignment with the bore in the second member, a pin in said first mentioned bore and connected to said spring, adapted selectively to enter any one of said plurality of bores in the first member to lock said members in predetermined angular positions relative to each other.

8. The structure defined in claim 5, and wherein said locking means includes positioning means comprising a leaf spring on the outer end of said second member having a position overhanging the outer periphery of said second member, an axial bore in said second member at a position spaced from the center thereof, a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores in said first member positioned for axial alignment with the offset bore in the second member as said members are rotated relative to one another, a pin in said first mentioned bore connected to said spring and adapted selectively to enter any one of said plurality of bores to lock said members in predetermined angular positions relative to each other.

9. A reversible drive mechanism of the class described including a pair of axially aligned telescopically connected and relatively rotatable cylindrical members, the

first member having a boss thereon at one end thereof which is offset from the center of the member and a cylindrical portion on the other end which is concentric with the member, the second member being centrally bored at one end to substantially the diameter of said aligned cylindrical portion and having a boss at the other end thereof which is eccentric to the central bore, said central bore in the second member being sufficiently deeper than said cylindrical portion of the first member to provide a gear chamber between the end of the central bore and the end of the cylindrical portion when said cylindrical portion is telescopically received in said central bore, an input shaft journalled in the boss of one of said members, an output shaft journalled in the boss of the other member, gears on each shaft and disposed within said gear chamber, an idler gear supported for rotation by a shaft extending into said gear chamber from one of said members at a position spaced from the central axis of the members, said idler gear being normally in mesh with the gear on one of said shafts, manually releasable locking means comprising a spring means secured at one of its ends to said second member, an elongated plunger secured at one of its ends to the other end of said spring means and movably disposed within an axial bore extending completely through said second member, said plunger being of a length greater than the length of the last mentioned bore so that the other end of the plunger normally extends beyond the bore, a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings in said first member adapted to be axially aligned with the plunger upon relative rotation of the members, said openings being positioned to receive said other end of the plunger 8 to lock said members in relative positions such that said gears are selectively held in positions effecting direct drive or reverse drive of said output shaft.

10. A reversible drive mechanism of the class described including a pair of axially aligned telescopically connected and relatively rotatable cylindrical members, the first member having a boss thereon at one end and offset from the center thereof and an axially aligned and concentric cylindrical portion on the other end, the second member being bored at one end to substantially the diameter of the cylindrical portion and having a boss at the other end thereof which is displaced relative to the center of the bore, said bored portion being sul'ficiently axially deeper than the cylindrical portion to provide a gear chamber between the ends of the bore and cylindrical portion when said axially aligned cylindrical portion is telescopically received in said bore with the longitudinal axis of the radial offset bosses, cylindrical portion and bore all disposed in parallel relation and the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion and bore aligned, an input shaft journalled in the boss of one of the members, an output shaft journalled in the boss of the other member, gears on each shaft, an idler gear supported for rotation by a shaft extending into the gear chamber from one of said members at a position spaced radially from the central axis of the members and adjacent one of the aforementioned gears said idler gear being in mesh with said one of the gears, said gears all being disposed in a common radial plane within said gear chamber, means releasably securing said members together for relative rotational movement, and locking means releasably securing said members in a plurality of selective positions for holding said gears in one of a plurality of positions permitting direct drive or reverse drive of said output shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

